Vladar’s knack for keeping cool under pressure should come in handy

VOORHEES, N.J. – It’s a bit early to be putting Dan Vladar’s name in the same sentence with Bernie Parent and Ron Hextall, but the Czech goalie’s first season with the Flyers did nothing to hurt his chances.
All he did was better all his personal career statistics and finish third in the NHL in goals-against average.
Only one other goaltender, Roman Cechmanek (2000-01), has been named Flyers’ MVP in his first year with the team.
In the upcoming playoff series with Pittsburgh, just about everyone is in agreement Vladar will have to be at his best for the Flyers to pull off a mild upset.
Coach Rick Tocchet believes his goalie is up to the task. He thinks the last 25 games since the Winter Olympics break have Vladar ready for the pressure of the playoffs.
“I think if you look at the last month, they’re desperate playoff games,” Tocchet said after Thursday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center.
“He’s got a pretty good runway of these types of games. We’re just playing the team (Penguins, in this series) more often. I don’t know if that makes a big deal. I’m not really worried. The fact that he played four or five in these pressure situations has helped him.
Tocchet was asked what he learned about Vladar through the season.
“Very rarely was he just OK,” the coach said. “Or say he had a game that was just OK, the next game he’s usually pretty strong. That says a lot.”
If Vladar is experiencing any nerves about the upcoming challenge, it didn’t come through in his answers to questions in the Flyers’ locker room.
“I’m trying to treat the games the same way, home or away,” he said in response to the pressure of playing the opening game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Vladar had a bit of playoff experience when he competed for Boston and Calgary, so he does know what the atmosphere is like.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s why you play hockey.”
Any restless nights worrying about Sidney Crosby?
“It doesn’t matter who shoots the puck, I’ve just got to stop it,” Vladar said with a grin.
A strong playoff performance would continue a strong start to his journey to join the ranks of Parent and Hextall someday.